Media processing devices with 2-dimensional articulable RF antenna

Abstract

Media processing devices with two-dimensional articulatable RF antennas are disclosed herein. An example media processing device with a two-dimensional articulatable RF antenna includes a media process path having a feed direction; an RF encoder disposed at a point along the media process path, comprising a programming region; an RF antenna configured to program RF tags; and a driver configured to articulate the RF antenna in a first direction perpendicular to the feed direction and within the programming region, and articulate the RF antenna in a second direction, parallel with the feed direction and within the programming region.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media processing device, configured to process a media web of media elements, each media element comprising an RF tag, the media processing device comprising:
 a media process path having a feed direction;   an RF encoder disposed at a point along the media process path, comprising:
 a programming region; 
 an RF antenna configured to program RF tags; and 
 a driver configured to articulate the RF antenna in a first direction perpendicular to the feed direction and within the programming region, and articulate the RF antenna in a second direction, parallel with the feed direction and within the programming region; and 
   wherein the media processing device is configured to drive the media web along the media process path at a predetermined feed rate,   wherein, during a printing process, the media processing device is configured to control the driver in the first direction to align the RF antenna with an RF tag of an individual media element of the media web entering the programming region on the media process path, and further configured to control the driver in the second direction such that the RF antenna remains aligned with the RF tag as the media web is driven along the media process path through the programming region.   
     
     
         2 . The media processing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a printhead, the printhead configured to impart indicia onto the media elements. 
     
     
         3 . The media processing device of  claim 2 , wherein during the printing process, the media processing device is configured to:
 a) impart each media element of the media web with indicia,   b) align each RF tag of the media web with the RF antenna for at least a predetermined amount of time, and   c) advance the media web at the predetermined feed rate.   
     
     
         4 . The media processing device of  claim 2 , wherein the printhead is a thermal printhead. 
     
     
         5 . The media processing device of  claim 2 , wherein one of:
 a) the RF encoder is located upstream of the printhead along the media process path, such that the RF tag of a given media element is programmed prior to the given media element being imparted with indicia during a printing process, and   b) the printhead is located upstream of the RF encoder along the media process path, such that the RF tag of a given media element is programmed after the given media element is imparted with indicia during a printing process.   
     
     
         6 . The media processing device of  claim 2 , wherein the printhead is located within the programming region, such that the RF tag of a given media element is programmed while being imparted with indicia during a printing process. 
     
     
         7 . The media processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the RF encoder includes one or more of a two-dimensional driver, a dual axis motor, a dual axis stepper motor, a dual axis gantry system, a single plane positioning stage, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The media processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined feed rate is selected from a group consisting of a constant feed rate, a variable feed rate, and a sequence of feed rates. 
     
     
         9 . A media processing device, comprising:
 a media driver configured to drive a media web along a media process path in a feed direction;   a printhead disposed at a first point along the media process path and configured to impart indicia onto media elements of the media web;   an RF encoder disposed at a second point along the media process path and comprising:
 a programming region aligned with a portion of the media process path; 
 an RF antenna configured to program an RF tag of each media element of the media web; and 
 an antenna driver configured to articulate the RF antenna in a first direction perpendicular to the feed direction and within the programming region, and articulate the RF antenna in a second direction, parallel with the feed direction and within the programming region; and 
   a logic circuit configured to:
 control the media driver to drive the media web along the media process path; 
 control the printhead to impart the indicia on predetermined media elements; 
 control the antenna driver to align the RF antenna with the RF tag of each media element in the first direction; and 
 control the antenna driver to move the RF antenna in the second direction synchronously with the media driver such that the RF antenna remains aligned with the RF tag of each media element in the first direction and in the second direction when each media element is in the programming region. 
   
     
     
         10 . The media processing device of  claim 9 , wherein during a printing process, the media processing device is configured to impart indicia to a first media element via the printhead while concurrently programming the RF tag of the first media element via the RF antenna. 
     
     
         11 . The media processing device of  claim 9 , wherein during a printing process, the media processing device is configured to impart indicia to a first media element via the printhead while concurrently programming the RF tag of the first media element or the RF tag of a second media element within the programming region via the RF antenna. 
     
     
         12 . The media processing device of  claim 9 , wherein during a printing process, the media processing device is configured to process the media web along the media process path. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a media processing device, comprising:
 providing a base unit including a printhead, the base unit defining a media process path having a feed direction,   installing an x-y positioning system at a point along the media process path, defining a two-dimensional programming region which is parallel with the media process path at the point along the media process path, and   installing an RF antenna to the x-y positioning system, such that the RF antenna is articulatable by the x-y positioning system throughout the two-dimensional programming region.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the point along the media process path is upstream of the printhead. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the printhead is upstream of the point along the media process path. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the printhead is located at the point along the media process path.